author
Martin B. (Martin Bronn) Ruud
1885–1941
A Norwegian-born scholar who helped bring Scandinavian literature and song to English-speaking readers, he also left a lasting mark on Shakespeare studies at the University of Minnesota. His work blends literary history, translation, and a deep interest in Norwegian American culture.
1 Audiobook
An Essay Toward a History of Shakespeare in Norway
by Martin B. (Martin Bronn) Ruud
About the author
Born in 1885 and later based at the University of Minnesota, Martin B. Ruud was a professor of English whose work ranged across literary history, philology, and translation. He is remembered not only for his own scholarship, but also for the influence he had on students and younger scholars.
His books include An Essay Toward a History of Shakespeare in Norway and Thomas Chaucer, and he also co-edited Studies in English Philology. Ruud was closely connected with Norwegian and Norwegian American cultural history as well: archival records describe him as a University of Minnesota professor concerned with preserving that heritage, and he worked with Theodore C. Blegen on Norwegian Emigrant Songs and Ballads.
He died in 1941. Later reflections from the University of Minnesota describe him as a figure of unusual integrity and intellectual strength, suggesting that his reputation rested as much on mentorship and character as on the number of books he published.